¶ He prophesyeth that zedekiah shall be taken, and the cytye burned.
CAPI. XXI.
[ A] THese are the wordes that the Lorde spake vnto Ieremy what tyme as king Zedekiah sent vnto him Phashur the sonne of Melchiah, and Sophoniah the son of Maastah preaste, sayinge: Aske counsell at the Lorde (we praye the) of oure behalfe, for Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babylon be∣siegeth vs, if the Lorde (peraduenture) wyll deale with vs, accordyng to his meruelous power, and take hym from vs.
Then spake Ieremy. Gyue Zedekiah this answere. Thus sayth the Lorde God of Is∣rael: beholde, I wyll turne backe the wea∣pons, that ye haue in youre handes, wher∣with ye fyghte agaynste the kynge of Baby∣lon and the Caloces, which besege you roūd about the walles, and I wyll brynge thē to∣gyther into the myddest of this cytye, and I my selfe will fyght agaynst you, with an out stretched hande, and with a myghtye arme, in great displeasure and terrible wrathe•• and wyll smyte them, that dwel in this citie: yea bothe men and cattell shall dye of the pesti∣lence.
And after this (sayth the Lorde) I shall [ B] delyuer Zedekiah the kyng of Iuda and his seruauntes, his people (and suche as are esca∣ped in the cytye, from the pestylence, swearde, and honger) into the power of Nabuchodo∣nosor kynge of Bablion: yea in to the han∣des of their enemyes, in to ye handes of those that folowe vpon their lyues, whiche shall smyte them with the swearde: they shal not pyty them, they shall not spare theym, they shal haue no mercye vpon them.
And vnto this people thou shalte saye: [ C] Thus sayth the Lorde: * beholde, I laye be¦fore you the waye of lyfe and death. Whoso abydeth in this cytye, shall perysshe: eyther with the swearde, with honger, or with pesty¦lence. But who so goeth out to holde on the Chaldees parte, that besege it, he shallsaue his lyfe, and shal wynne his soule for a pray. For I haue set my face agaynste this cytye (sayth the Lorde) to plage it, and to doo it no good. It muste be gyuen in to the hande of the kynge of Babilon, and be brent with tyre.
And vnto the house of the kynge of Iuda, [ D] saye thus: Heare the worde of the Lorde (O thou house of Dauid) for thus sayth yt Lord: Mynystre ryghtousnesse, and that soone, de∣lyuer the oppressed frome vyolent power: or euer my certyble wrath breake oute lyke a fyre, and burne so, that no man maye quench it, because of the wyckednesse of youre yma∣ginacions. Beholde, (saythe the Lord) I will come vpon you, that dwell in the valleyes, rockes and feldes, and say: Tushe: who wil make vs afrayed? or who wyll come in to our houses? For I wyl vyser you (sayth the Lorde) because of the wyckednesse of youre inuencions, and wyll kyndse suche a fyre in youre wod, as shall cosume all, that is about you.